Inhalants awareness benefit to be held

March 15, 2013

HARPERS FERRY - Jesse Dillow, of Ranson, was just 19 years old when his life was cut short.

Jesse had been in his bedroom the night of the Super Bowl inhaling air duster when he overdosed, said Lee Reifke, his aunt. He was put on life support, but passed away Feb. 13.

"They're all struggling," Reifke said of the family's grief.

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Jesse Dillow, of Ranson, passed away last month after using inhalants. A benefit concert is being held Saturday in his honor.

One in five students has used an inhalant to get high by the time he or she reaches the eighth grade, according to the National Inhalant Prevention Coalition. "Inhalant" refers to the intentional breathing of gas or vapors with the purpose of getting high, according to the NIPC website.

Those who use inhalants are typically abusing common household products, such as adhesives, cleaning products and aerosols. Abuse of these products can slow down the body's function and can lead to heart, kidney, brain and liver damage, according to the NIPC website.

Jesse left behind his parents and grandparents, two brothers and a fiance, Andrea. Reifke said Jesse and Andrea were planning to start a life together once she turned 18, only a week prior to his death.

"As soon as this happened he died, he was taken away from her," Reifke said.

With National Inhalant Awareness Week approaching, Reifke is holding a memorial concert Saturday to preserve Jesse's memory and raise awareness about the dangers of using inhalants.

"It affects a lot of people and affects a lot of people's lives," Reifke said. "Kids need to make smart decisions and realize it can all be taken away in an instant."

Reifke said there is great community support for the event. Local bands will be playing the show, and area teens will talk about their experiences with Jesse, as well as struggles with various kinds of substance abuse in between bands.

Reifke said the event is not meant to lecture teens, but to educate them on the dangers of inhalants while giving them a safe space to discuss their experiences.

"Some kids do realize this is dangerous," Reifke said. "This is something that needs to be talked about."

The Jesse Dillow Benefit show will take place at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Shack, located at 58 Mission Road in Harpers Ferry. Admission is $5. Proceeds will go toward scholarships for local students, as well as inhalant awareness campaigns.